Smyrna times., 1887-12-07
Questions Of State.
WHAT SOME STATESMEN THINK is
NEEDED.
Summary of Interviews With Mum
Der Of Members of Congress on
Their Work.
Questions Of State.

- AhSOA HAOho WIN hCdA4J uuuuI6u |
members OF Congress upon the ques-
lions which are likely to be presented
to that body for its action during the
coming session, and partially those re-
lating to the tariff, reduction of the
surplus revenue and a postal telegraph.
The Post summarizes the interviews
as follows:
Speaker Carlisle states the Demo
cratic position with great clearness.
His views are especially important in
view of the great responsibility which
will be placed upon his shoulders with
the organization of the House. He
believes in an immediate reduction of |
the surplus revenues now pouring into !
the Treasury. He believes in reduc- |
ing the taxes which produce these |
revenues at least seventy millions of
dollars annually. His Democratic fol-
lowers, who voted with Mr.. Morrison
in the last Congress, generally take the
same position. OF the few Democrats
who have sided with Mr.. Randall, who
are now in the city, Mr.. McAdoo, Mr..
Stahlnecker, Mr.. Wilkins, Mr. Merri-
man and Mr.. Lawler, are quoted as
experiencing somewhat a change of
heart. The sentiment of the North
western Congressman is that the free
trade sentiment is growing in that
section. Democratic representatives
from Minnesota and Michigan have
the highest confidence that their two
states can be made Democratic on the
revenue reform issue. Mr.. Lyman, of
Ohio, a Republican, although he ac-
knowledges that he is a protectionist,
comes out for reduction of the rev.
enue. Many other Republicans like
Mr.. Lyman agree that something must
be done with the tariff, though few
like Messrs Sawyer and Bacon, of New
York, and Jackson, of Pennsylvania,
think that nothing will be done at this
! session.
Many ways of reducing the sur
plus are suggested. Quite a number of
congressman, including Representa-
tive Catchinds, of Mississippi, Shively,
of Indiana, Taulbee sand Caruth, of
Kentucky, and Abbott, of Texas, favor
a compromise, such as taking the tax
off tobacco and prefer reducing the
tax on fruit brandies. The proposition
to take the tax off whiskey hardly
finds a supporter. The question of
putting sugar on the free list finds
some advocates, but mainly among
Republicans. The Louisiana Congress
men, to whom this is a very vital
question, say that their state is divid-
ed, the northern portion being in favor
of free sugar, and the Gulf section
opposed to it. The Democratic senti-
ment is largely in favor of increasing
the free list, adding to it salt, lumber
and the necessities of life. Represen-
tative Bynum, of Indiana thinks that a
good bill to reduce the tariff can be
passed without the support of Mr..
Randall, and he adds that the Repub.
licans of the West and Northwest are
beginning to feel that they cannot
} longer oppose such a measure with
political safety. Representative Tur.
ner, of Kansas, comes forward with g
new proposition to substitute exported
/ grains. Quite a number of Congress
men favor a Democratic caucus before
the tariff matter comes up in the
House.
"Views on the postal telegraph ar,
both diverse and interesting. Unlike
i; the tariff, it is not a party question
' The representatives who favor it arr
0 quite numerous. Mr.. Whitthorne, o
Tennessee, thinks that the government
' can support a telegraphic system as i
5 did the postal system, beginning will
> wires between the large cities. Rep
resentative Jackson, of Pennsylvania
Q favors an experimental line between
q Philadelphia and New York. Mr.
e Browne, of Indiana, would probably
e support well-considered scheme, anC
s Mr.. Whiting, of Michigan, would favo
I the project if it was started on
sound basis. Representative Thomas
of Illinois, Walks, Stone and Wade, o
/ Michigan, are in favor of q government
telegraph, the latter wanting the gov
e eminent to appropriate $1O,OOO,OOO 70
the purpose. Mr.. Woodbury., o
Nevada, is in favor of the government
t buying up existing lines, instead 0
starting on a new basis, On the Othe
hand the arguments are against gov
> eminent ownership, and given by MI
Hutton, of Missouri, Mr.. Wise, of Vir
ginia, Mr.. Merriman, of New York
= and number of others, are that tn
= government ought not to increase of it
civil list by 10000 telegraph operators
that the government ought not to g
into private business, and that tn
Y scheme is unwise and undemocratic.